Question to those with far more International Shipping expeience than I.
I am looking to Ship a rather expensive item to Germany.
What would be the best (safest) provider and method?
The Buyer is already aware that he will be in for some hefty import duty.
Insurance and tracking are essential.
Thanks

Just curious - I recently shipped two things to international buyers (one Canadian, one French) via USPS Int. Prio. I didn't keep the customs sheets. According to the buyers, the packages, long since overdue, have not arrived. How would you guys treat this problem? I'm thinking that I have to give them refunds, but in the future, I just won't do international shipping.

Thanks.

Have the packages shown up? I've heard there were some delays at the holidays?

Internationally, USPS probably has pretty decent prices and I've never had any trouble receiving packages. Priority is decent value but for less valuable items, first class air mail is a bit cheaper and does the job just as well. Express usually takes 4 business days to make it out to Australia.

is there tracking with USPS International delivery? or does delivery confirmation work just like a US package?

Quote:

Just curious - I recently shipped two things to international buyers (one Canadian, one French) via USPS Int. Prio. I didn't keep the customs sheets. According to the buyers, the packages, long since overdue, have not arrived. How would you guys treat this problem? I'm thinking that I have to give them refunds, but in the future, I just won't do international shipping.

There should be tracking with USPS priority (or maybe it's an extra service?). I always get a tracking number.

I was there last week and I met a poor family that I thought I could help.

They needed everything. Clothes, dishes, toys, odds and ends etc..

So when I got back to Houston I put a bunch of stuff in a large U-Haul cardboard box.

Then I shopped shipping rates. That was the first surprise. The box weighed 38.5 Lbs. There was a lot of stuff in it ( nothing of very much value, but useful to them). Rates ranged from $541 with DHL!!!! to $111 with USPS. This was more than I wanted to spend, but I had promised to help them.

So I went to my main post office and mailed it on Sept. 2, via international priority for $111. The lady said it would take 6-10 days and there was no tracking # nor insurance available but she did give me the customs form tracking #.

Today,I thought it was time to start checking if it arrived so I called USPS this AM. I was on the phone for 2 hours! I determined that it arrived in Los Angeles on Sept. 5th. This was strange, since that is out of the way for a shipment from Houston to the Valley.

And than the shocker. Another USPS lady told me that the package then goes to Germany, which is the USPS International Mail transhipment point for the world! Has anybody ever heard of this?

So, even though, I was trying to mail it from Houston, Tx. to Reynosa , Mexico, a straight shot of about 300 miles, it's going to go from Houston to L.A. to Germany and then hopefully to Mexico. I will be surprised if they even get the package, let alone in 6-10 days. I can start an inquiry, but it must be after 7 days and today is one day short.

Has anyone ever encountered something this crazy?

PS: The package contained mostly stuff like toothbrushes and underwear. And toys for their kids. It's no wonder Mexico is so poor if they steal things like this.